In Grateful Memory

Sgt. Mark H. Schoonhoven (U.S. Army), 38, Plainwell, Michigan. Died Jan. 20 from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised bomb on Dec. 15 in Kabul, Afghanistan.

This is the second neighbor from the small city nearest our rural home to be killed in the senseless conflict in Afghanistan. The Mayor said, “Unfortunately, we know how to deal with this. Two years ago, one of our own died. That was tragic, and so is this.”

Knowing how to deal with it doesn’t make it any less painful.  

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Unfortunately, the Geezer doesn’t have the time or resources to honor all Americans and  NATO allies who are being killed in Afghanistan, so memorials are limited to service members from my home state of Michigan. You can find a record of all American deaths at www.freedomremembered.com.

Correction: It Was "Friendly" Fire

My post on October 11, 2011 said:

“Capt. Drew E. Russell (U.S. Army), 25, Scotts, Michigan. Killed by a rocket-propelled grenade In Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, October 8, 2011.”

That statement was based on an official announcement by the Army. Now, a review of internal Army records and interviews in the U.S. and Afghanistan by the Association Press show the report was untrue in one important respect. Capt. Russell was not killed by “the enemy” as the brief account implied. He died after being shot three times in the back in what investigators called a calculated and coordinated attack by Afghan soldiers entrusted to work alongside their U.S. partners.

At least 63 coalition troops have been killed and more than 85 wounded in some 46 insider attacks so far this year.

Does anyone out there believe we and our allies should stay in Afghanistan?

In Grateful Memory

Jenna G. Beno (U.S. Army), 24, Clarkston, Michigan. Died Oct. 15, 2012 of injuries suffered when her unit was deployed to Iraq in August 2009.

 

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Unfortunately, the Geezer doesn’t have the time or resources to honor all Americans and  NATO allies who gave their lives in Iraq or are dying daily in Afghanistan, so memorials are limited to service members from my home state of Michigan. You can find a record of all American deaths at www.freedomremembered.com.